GB2191924A

GB2191924A - Seed tray

Info

Publication number: GB2191924A
Application number: GB08714609A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pinilla Manuel Angel Toribio; Pinilla Jose Francisco Toribio; Moreno Felipe Sanchez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-24
Filing date: 1987-06-23
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Also published as: LU86926A1; ES295198Y; GB8714609D0; BE1000082A7; ES295198U; FR2600483A1; NL8701457A

Abstract

A seed tray having a base and side walls formed from an inner layer (1) and an outer layer (2) to give a double-walled construction, the said inner layer (1) being hermetically sealed to the outer layer (2) to define a chamber (3, 11), an electrical heating element (5) within the chamber (3) and a temperature regulator (8) connected to the heating element (5) for the purpose of selecting a desired temperature when the tray is in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seed Tray The present invention relatesto a seed tray.

As iknowrtseedsare frequerAFy gerrninated in seedtraysrsrregaad results beirig oMairted on the basis of using hydrcxp-or,ic feeding systems forthe plants in a suitable environment.

The germination of seeds and the development of plants is often facilitated by not only providing optimum conditions of humidity and feed, but also by keeping the temperature in the seed tray at a specific level.

Very often seeds are germinated in glasshouses where advantage is taken of the heat of the sun's rays with if necessary the assistance of auxiliary heating systems thereby to maintain an adequate temperature level.

However, the investment required in the construction of a glasshouse is often notjustified, and sometimes the amount of heat required to maintain a given temperature is excessive, given that it is necessaryto heat a very considerable space where there are frequent draughts causing the dissipation of substantial amounts of heat.

The tray proposed by the present invention aims to overcome these problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a seed tray having a base and side walls formed from an inner layer and an outer layerto give a double-walled construction, the said inner layer being hermetically sealed to the outer layer to define a chamber, an electrical heating element within the chamber and a temperature regulator connected to the heating elementforthe purpose of selecting a desired tempera turewhenthetray is in use.

The tray ofthe invention is intended to be used for the germination of seeds and forthe growth of the plants. It is equipped with means to maintain a given temperature chosen for this purpose, and which does not consume more energy than is strictly necessary to maintain the level of temperature in the soil in the tray thereby giving a substantial saving of energy.

The tray of the invention is capable of establishing different heat levels in its interior such that in each case the temperature is the most suitable for the specific crop for which the tray is intended atthattime.

The temperature regulator generally comprises an electronicthermostat, a bimetallic thermostat, a bulb thermostat or any other means which is capable of breaking the electrical circuit su pplying currenttothe heating element when thetemperature in the tray has risen above the preset temperature, a level which, as has been stated above, is variable accordingtothe specific application of the tray/.

The body of the tray may' be produced from very diversemateri,ais,,ofbo,th a metallic and plastic type and of any other type. The preferred material is pol'yesterreinf'rcdwith glass fibre since, owing to the properties ofthis material, considerable mechanical resistance can be achieved for the tray. This material is also unafflected by the different products used in growing plants, such as insectisides and fungicides, and furthermore has anticorrosive characteristics.

Preferably the seed tray ofthe invention incorporates an indicator lightto show when the heating element is on. The tray preferably incorporates a switch for the heating element.

Preferably,the base of the tray is provided with a drainage aperture, typically located in the vicinity of a corner of the tray. The aperture is selectively closed by a stopper.

An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan viewofa seed tray in accordance with the present invention, in which the internal partition of its base appears partially in section in orderto show the heating element.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation ofthe tray of Figure 1,and Figure 3 shows a lengthwise section of the tray of Figure 1, taken along the section line A-B of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a seed tray comprising a flat body similarto that of a conventional seed tray, which may be of different dimensions depending onthetype of crop for which the tray is intended. The tray has a base and side walls, each of which is of double-walled construction. The internal wall 1 and the external wall 2 define a chamber 3, the two walls being hermetically sealed together.

In the chamber3 there is a heating element 5, preferably made from a resistance wire 6 (nycron) covered with insulating PVC, with the corresponding electrical supply cable 7 emerging from a suitable point in the tray, and connected to a suitable plug. A variabletemperature control 8, is connected in the electrical circuit, and an indicator light 9 is connected in parallel with the resistance wire 6 to show when the heating element is switched on.

The temperature regulator8 is provided with a control knob 10 for selection of the desired tempera- turn iso asto maintain atemperature suitedto the specific use ofthe tray at any time. The regulator is preferably a bimetallic, electronic or bulb thermostat.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the hermetic chamber between the two walls 1,2 ofthe body of the tray opens out in the vicinity ofthe regulator to define a side chamber 11 of suitable size to contain the latter, the indicator light 9, and, if necessary, any other components, such as a switch, a fuse, and the like.

In order to facilitate draining ofthetray, the latter is equipped in its base and preferably nearto one of its corners with a drainage aperture 12 which is closed by a plug 13.

With the present arrangement, it is possibieto maintain within the tray a suitable and constant temperaturefor each different type of crop, which results in a substantial reduction in seed germination time or in the growing period of the plants.

1. A seed tray having a base and side walls formed from an inner layer and an outer layerto give a double-walled construction, the said inner layer being hermetically sealed to the outerlayerto define a chamber, an electrical heating elementwithin the chamber and a temperature regulator connected to the heating elementforthe purpose of selecting a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seed Tray The present invention relatesto a seed tray. As iknowrtseedsare frequerAFy gerrninated in seedtraysrsrregaad results beirig oMairted on the basis of using hydrcxp-or,ic feeding systems forthe plants in a suitable environment. The germination of seeds and the development of plants is often facilitated by not only providing optimum conditions of humidity and feed, but also by keeping the temperature in the seed tray at a specific level. Very often seeds are germinated in glasshouses where advantage is taken of the heat of the sun's rays with if necessary the assistance of auxiliary heating systems thereby to maintain an adequate temperature level. However, the investment required in the construction of a glasshouse is often notjustified, and sometimes the amount of heat required to maintain a given temperature is excessive, given that it is necessaryto heat a very considerable space where there are frequent draughts causing the dissipation of substantial amounts of heat. The tray proposed by the present invention aims to overcome these problems. Accordingly, the present invention provides a seed tray having a base and side walls formed from an inner layer and an outer layerto give a double-walled construction, the said inner layer being hermetically sealed to the outer layer to define a chamber, an electrical heating element within the chamber and a temperature regulator connected to the heating elementforthe purpose of selecting a desired tempera turewhenthetray is in use. The tray ofthe invention is intended to be used for the germination of seeds and forthe growth of the plants. It is equipped with means to maintain a given temperature chosen for this purpose, and which does not consume more energy than is strictly necessary to maintain the level of temperature in the soil in the tray thereby giving a substantial saving of energy. The tray of the invention is capable of establishing different heat levels in its interior such that in each case the temperature is the most suitable for the specific crop for which the tray is intended atthattime. The temperature regulator generally comprises an electronicthermostat, a bimetallic thermostat, a bulb thermostat or any other means which is capable of breaking the electrical circuit su pplying currenttothe heating element when thetemperature in the tray has risen above the preset temperature, a level which, as has been stated above, is variable accordingtothe specific application of the tray/. The body of the tray may' be produced from very diversemateri,ais,,ofbo,th a metallic and plastic type and of any other type. The preferred material is pol'yesterreinf'rcdwith glass fibre since, owing to the properties ofthis material, considerable mechanical resistance can be achieved for the tray. This material is also unafflected by the different products used in growing plants, such as insectisides and fungicides, and furthermore has anticorrosive characteristics. Preferably the seed tray ofthe invention incorporates an indicator lightto show when the heating element is on. The tray preferably incorporates a switch for the heating element. Preferably,the base of the tray is provided with a drainage aperture, typically located in the vicinity of a corner of the tray. The aperture is selectively closed by a stopper. An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan viewofa seed tray in accordance with the present invention, in which the internal partition of its base appears partially in section in orderto show the heating element. Figure 2 shows a side elevation ofthe tray of Figure 1,and Figure 3 shows a lengthwise section of the tray of Figure 1, taken along the section line A-B of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a seed tray comprising a flat body similarto that of a conventional seed tray, which may be of different dimensions depending onthetype of crop for which the tray is intended. The tray has a base and side walls, each of which is of double-walled construction. The internal wall 1 and the external wall 2 define a chamber 3, the two walls being hermetically sealed together. In the chamber3 there is a heating element 5, preferably made from a resistance wire 6 (nycron) covered with insulating PVC, with the corresponding electrical supply cable 7 emerging from a suitable point in the tray, and connected to a suitable plug. A variabletemperature control 8, is connected in the electrical circuit, and an indicator light 9 is connected in parallel with the resistance wire 6 to show when the heating element is switched on. The temperature regulator8 is provided with a control knob 10 for selection of the desired tempera- turn iso asto maintain atemperature suitedto the specific use ofthe tray at any time. The regulator is preferably a bimetallic, electronic or bulb thermostat. As can be seen in Figure 3, the hermetic chamber between the two walls 1,2 ofthe body of the tray opens out in the vicinity ofthe regulator to define a side chamber 11 of suitable size to contain the latter, the indicator light 9, and, if necessary, any other components, such as a switch, a fuse, and the like. In order to facilitate draining ofthetray, the latter is equipped in its base and preferably nearto one of its corners with a drainage aperture 12 which is closed by a plug 13. With the present arrangement, it is possibieto maintain within the tray a suitable and constant temperaturefor each different type of crop, which results in a substantial reduction in seed germination time or in the growing period of the plants. CLAIMS

1. A seed tray having a base and side walls formed from an inner layer and an outer layerto give a double-walled construction, the said inner layer being hermetically sealed to the outerlayerto define a chamber, an electrical heating elementwithin the chamber and a temperature regulator connected to the heating elementforthe purpose of selecting a desired temperature when the tray is in use.

2. A seed tray according to Claim 1, wherein the heating element is made from a resistance wire and the temperature regulator is an electronic, bimetallic or bulb thermostat.

3. A seed tray according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a drainage aperture in the base of the tray, closable by a plug.

4. A seed tray according to any one of the preceding claims, which tray is made from polyester reinforced with glass fibre.

5. A seedtray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. Thermal tray which, being specially designed to be used as a seed nursery, orwith any otherfruit- and vegetable-growing, industriai or stock-breeding application, in which it is necessary to maintain within said tray a specific temperature, is essentially characterized in that it is made from a body in which there is defined a double partition, defining both its base and its lateral walls, one partition being hermetically sealed and the other corresponding with the outlet of the tray and defining between them a level chamber in which there is established a calorific plate, supplied with electricity by means of a temperature regulator also provided within said chamber and providedwith an external control in order to carry out the corres ponding regulation.